Enterococcus faecium: Overview

Enterococcus faecium, a dangerous bacterium that accounts for 12 percent of all nosocomial infections (acquired while in the hospital), is a major cause of concern for doctors. Over the last 20 years, Enterococcus faecium has become increasingly resistant to high-powered antibiotics. The "super germ," originally classified in the 1930's as a streptococci strand but given its own classification in 1984 after it was determined to be a separate bacterium, is the second-leading cause of nosocomial infections behind E. coli.

E. faecium is a spherical bacterium which mainly lives in the digestive tract but can spread throughout the body causing abdominal and skin structure infections as well as infections of the urinary tract, central nervous system and heart. E. faecium can prove fatal for immuno-deficient patients. The bacterium has shown high resistance to salt and acid concentrations as well as low-level detergents. Insufficient cleaning measures can promote E. faecium infections.
The main cause for alarm among doctors is the bacterium's resistance to antibiotics such as penicillin and vancomycin. Vancomycin has been labeled the "antibiotic of last resort" because of its strength. The rate of infection of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) has swelled in the years since its initial classification, yet doctors are currently making strides against the harmful bacterium.

See your doctor if you have experienced serious health problems because of an infection. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.

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